Kiron Skinner Reflects on Nancy Reagan

Carnegie Mellon University’s Kiron Skinner met Nancy Reagan in 1994, when the former first lady gave Skinner nearly exclusive access to President Ronald Reagan’s private papers.

Kiron Skinner

Skinner, director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy in CMU’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, used those papers to co-write The New York Times bestseller "REAGAN: A Life in Letters.” The book provides an unprecedented look at more than 70 years of Reagan's life through his personal correspondences to friends and family, statesmen, celebrities, children and ordinary citizens.

"Nancy Reagan’s main concern was having an accurate history of President Reagan’s legacy," said Skinner, an expert on political strategy, international relations and U.S. foreign policy. "She was a staunch supporter of her husband’s policies.

"For example, Ronald and Nancy were lockstep in their view that in order for the Cold War to end, pieces had to fall in place first, such as the U.S. military buildup. She was influential in the relationship that President Reagan formed with Mikhail Gorbachev and critical to the ending of the Cold War," Skinner said.

Reagan died today (March 6). She was 94.

Skinner is available for media interviews. Contact Shilo Rea at shilo@cmu.edu or 412-268-6094.